Rail-joint.



' J. W GRANT.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.25, 1911.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912 v INVENTOR M %[7/w/77 ATTORNEYS Oil/MM UNITEDSTATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JACOB W. GRANT, or HANLIN: STATION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALFTo ANNA CORA GRANT, or HANLIN STATION, PENNs-YLV NI RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAooB WV. GRANT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Hanlin Station, in the county of l/Vashington andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rail joints, and the primary object of myinvention. is the provision of positive and reliable means for holdingthe confronting ends of rails or bracing rails upon a curve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel rail chair thatcan be easily and quickly placed in position to support broken orinjured rails.

A further object of this invention is to furnish a rail chair withsimple and eifeo tive means for retaining splice bars in engagement withthe confronting ends of rails, whereby one rail cannot becomeaccidentally displaced relatively to the other rail or one railspreading relatively to the other rail of a track, thereby preservingthe alinementof rails and insuring a safe movement of heavy rollingstock upon the rails.

A still further object of this invention is to furnish a rail joint withnovel nut looking devices that will prevent accidental displacement ofnuts due to vibrations caused by rolling stock passing over a joint.

I attain the above objects by a mechanical construction that is durable,inexpensive to 'manufacture and highly efficient for the purposes forwhich it is intended.

The invention will be hereinafter specifically described and thenclaimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail joint in accordance with thisinvention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a detached lockingdevice, Fig. 3 is an end view of the rail joint, and Figs. 4 and 5 arecross sectional views of the same.

The reference numeral 1 denotes a rail chair supporting the base flanges2 of rails 3, said rails having confronting ends thereof locatedapproximately intermediate the ends of the chair. The ends of the chairare provided with oppositely disposed lugs 4 engaging the edges of theflanges 2, and said chair has the longitudinal edges there- 7 ofprovided with equally spaced angularly' disposed supports 5 connected bystraps 6.

The supports 5 are provided with openings 7, and the straps 6 provideopenings 8 between said supports. Bracing the sides of the rails 3 aresplice bars 9 and the lower edges of these bars rest upon the flanges 2and are provided with tongues 10 extending into the openings 8 under thestraps 6. The upper edges of the splice bars have equally spaced bosses11 having flat faces 12 in parallelism with the upper faces of thesupports 5. Engaging in the bosses 11 are the pointed ends 13 of' bolts14, said bolts having the lower ends thereof threaded and provided withnuts 15. The lower ends of the bolts extend into the opening 7 of thesupports 5 and these bolts are adapted to retain the splice bars inengagement with the rails 3, whereby the heads of said rails will besupported. Encircling the bolts 14, upon the supports 5, are washers 16having the inner edges thereof provided with barrels 17. Pivotallymounted in the barrels 17 are wire yokes 18 having side arms 19. Thearms 19 are adapted to engage oppositely disposed facets of the'nuts 15and prevent said nuts from rotating. This is accomplished by the barrels 17 engaging the straight edges of the splice bars 9, between thetongues 10. The yokes' can be easily swung out of engagement with thenuts when it is desired to tighten or loosen the nuts or to remove thesplice bars 9.

The angularly disposed supports 5 have depending therefrom verticalwalls 20 which provide what may be termed housings, and extending inthese housings are the lower ends of the bolts 14. The bolts 14 can beadjusted by a suitable tool engaging the lower ends thereof within thehousings. The longitudinal edges of the chair permit of spikes or otherfastening means being employed for securing the chair to ties, sleepersor other supports.

The joint in its entirety can be made of light and durable metal and ofsuch sizes as to firmly support the large rails now used for supportingheavy rolling stock.

What I claim is 1. In a rail joint, the combination with rails, of achair adapted to support the base flanges thereof, angularly disposedsupports carried by the longitudinal edges of said chair strapsconnecting said supports and providing openings splice bars bracing saidrails and having tongues projecting into said openings, bolts arrangedin said supports and having the upper ends thereof engaging the upperedges of said splice bars,

and nuts screwed upon said bolts and adapted to hold said bolts inengagement With said splice bars.

2. In a rail joint, the combination With rails, of a chair adapted tosupport said rails, lugs carried by the ends of said chairs and engagingthe base flanges of said rails, angularly disposed supports carried bythe longitudinal edges of said supports, straps connecting said supportsand providing openings, splice bars bracing the sides of said rails,bosses carried by the upper edges of said splice bars and confrontingsaid sup: ports, bolts arranged in said supports and having the upperends thereof engaging in said bosses, and nuts screwed upon said boltsfor holding said bolts in engagement With said splice bars.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

' v JACOB W. GRANT.

Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLoVrrz,

C. T. H001).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 20. Gr"

